The Concept
We’ve all been there, I hope, where we get to a camp on day one and the site is beautifully set up – marquees as far as the eye can see, toilets glistening and volunteers frolicking to make sure everything goes well. You may, at this stage, think to yourself – “Huh, that’s cool, the site is all set up,” or you might not – and that’s fine. You’re there to have fun not think about how volunteers moved kilometers of cable to make sure the lights come on.
In reality – there’s an often very small group of people who work tirelessly before a big (or small) camp to make sure that the site is set up and that everything is ready to rock n roll on day one. Similarly, at the backend of camp – there’s an even smaller team of volunteers who get the behemoth task of packing the sites into a series of vans and shipping equipment back to hidey-holes across the country.
Why does Camp 100 need this?
Camp 100 expects there to be about 2000 people on site for 10 days! This is really exciting but also a complete logistical nightmare. Can you imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have all the key infrastructure setup before all the hungry Elfins arrive on the first day of camp. Carnage.
So – for the week(or-so) before Camp 100 starts, there’s going to be a small working party of super-duper volunteers on site, who will be making the site all nice and homely before the masses descend. Similarly, at the end of camp, there’s two days where a group of volunteers will clear up the entire site.
If I Come – What Is Expected of Me?
Not much… But there are a few key things (alongside the usual stuff of coming to a Woodcraft event):
- You attend the morning meeting where tasks will be allocated for that day depending on the priority (everyone needs to come to the meeting, even if you have your own tasks you want to do that day)
- You have an open mind to tasks which need completing – what is a priority for you in your role might be best saved for closer to camp, so you may be asked to pitch in with other jobs on site
- You have fun & take time off – we’re pretty much all volunteers at the end of the day, and deserve to have a break before the masses descend
- You ensure that you’re ready to work everyday, making sure last night’s fun doesn’t impact you on the morning after
Can I Come?
Well, probably. Due to Safeguarding, we have to be slightly careful about who can come unsupervised – see below for all the latest:
- No one aged 12 or under is permitted on site during Working Week & Takedown
- Those aged 13 to 15, inclusive, will be permitted to come to Working Week / Takedown as long as they book with a designated adult (aged 21 or over on 20th July 2025) who is able to supervise them during all activities they carry out
- Those aged 16 and 17 are permitted to come to Working Week / Takedown as long as they have a designated adult (aged 21 or over on 20th July 2025) with them. In this case it is permitted to swap designated adults during WW/TD as long as both the young person and the adult agree on the swap (for example – a 17 year old may be supervised by another volunteer in the Kitchen during meal preparation while their usual designated adult is wrestling a freezer up a hill on the other side of the site).
- Those aged 18 and up are free to book in as they wish, without a designated adult on site.
We are also keen for all sorts of people, with different fitness levels to come to Working Week. Not all the tasks are really physical, there’s quite a number of less active tasks which have to get done to turn an empty field into an International Youth Festival! The Coordination team encourages people to take on tasks they feel confident, comfortable and capable to take on or to learn about!
How much does it cost to come?
Nothing! Yes, really.
By volunteering your time to come to Working Week / Takedown, you’re helping the camp team make Camp 100 even better. Some of the cost of camp for all attendees factors in the cost of Working Week & Takedown as we still have to feed people and provide infrastructure on the site.
If you are still desperate to give us some cash, we won’t say no. You can donate to the Camp 100 Just Giving page, where all donations go towards making Camp 100 better for everyone.
How do I find out more & book?
To find out more about Working Week / Takedown or to answer any questions you may have – please contact workingweekandtakedown@camp100.org.uk.
To book for Working Week and / Takedown – please fill out the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/4hpyBP8BeUePiHT39